Fire hydrant



J. H. SKOMP Feb. 5, 1963 FIRE HYDRANT Filed Nov. v2O. 1959 F/G l 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JAMES H. sKoMP wwwmzwww ATTORNEW Feb. 5, 1963 J. H. sKoMP 3,076,474l

FIRE HYDRANT Filed NOV. 20, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/GA.

IN VENTOR JAMES H. SKOMP ATTORNEYS Feb. 5, 1963 J. H. sKoMP 3,076,474

. FIRE HYDRANT Filed NOV. 20, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5,

f |02 22 es X se 58 2s La /f INVENTOR 70 YT .JAMES H. sKoMP 5 ao ZW {Qu/)l Maa) United States Patent Utilice `3,075,474 Patented Feb. 5,1963

3,076,474 t FERR HYDRANT James H. Skomp, Avon Lake, Ohio, assigner to Mueller Co., Decatur, lll., a corporation of liliinois Filed Nov. 2), 1959, Ser. No. 854,416 2 Claims. (Cl. 137--307) This invention relates to improvements in tire hydrants generally of the type which have a vertical barrel portion, a hydrant shoe, a top closure plate, and a main valve with its associated operating elements. Such hydrants include various arrangements of outlet hose nozzles in the upper portion of the barrel and also drain means disposed in the lower portion of the barrel to permit the escape of water within the barrel when the hydrant valve has been closed after use.

In particular, the p-resent invention pertains to re hydrants having plural barrel sections connected together in an end-to-end relation by the usual frangible coupling ring which serves to protect the valve and its associated operating mechanisms from damage should the hydrant be struck by a motor vehicle or otherwise subjected to a severe horizontal stress. It is common in fire hydrants to place at least one hose or steamer nozzle in the upper barrel portion, the disposition of which may vary according to the particular use or user of the hydrant. One of the features of the hydrant of the present invention is to provide an enlarged portion in the upper barrel section so that the manufacture of the different dispositions and locations of the hose and steamer nozzles is facilitated. The enlarged -barrel portion speciiically serves to facilitate changing of the mold cores required to form the aforementioned nozzles when the upper barrel section is cast.

This invention also is concerned with the novel arrangement of the internal drain system of a fire hydrant to allow for the draining of Water trapped therein when the operating valve has been closed. It is well-known that if inadequate drain means are provided within the lower barrel portion, the trapped water not only will aid the corrosion of the Valve mechanism but also will, during periods of low temperatures, freeze within the lower barrel portion, making it extremely diicult, if not impossible, to open the hydrant valve. Additionally, this invention is specifically directed to a novel sealing arrangement disposed within the top closure plate of such hydrants wherein a duid-tight seal is provided between the top plate closure and the upper portion of the operating mechanism for the valve stem.

It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide an improved lire hydrant structure in which the manufacture or disposition of the hose and steamer nozzles is readily facilitated.

Another object or the present invention is to provide improved drain means disposed within the lower portion of the hydrant barrel, which means will insure that no Water be trapped within .the hydrant barrel when the hydrant valve is closed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improved means to seal the operating mechanism for a hydrant valve stern within the top closure plate, wherein failure of the seal may readily be detected, and, also, wherein the seal may be readily restored to its operative condition.

These and further'objects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of a iire hydrant embodying this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of the hydrant shown in FIG. l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper portion of the hydrant shown in FIG. l;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower portion of the hydrant shown in FIG. l;

FIGURE 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 but illustrating a modified form of the invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 further illustrating the modified form of the invention `shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a hydrant having a substantially cylindrical barrel provided with an upper barrel section 20 and a lower barrel section 22 disposed in an end-to-end relation and joined together by the usual frangible coupling ring 24 and connecting Ibolts 26. A hydrant shoe 28 is suitably mounted on the lower end of the barrel 22, as by the bolts 3u extending through peripheral flanges 32 and 34 on the lower barrel section and on the hydrant shoe 28 respectively. The upper end of the barrel is closed by a top plate 36 secured to the upper barrel section 2i) by screws 38 directly threaded into tapped openings in the upper end of the upper barrel section.

The upper portion of the upper barrel section Ztl is radially enlarged both interiorly and exteriorly, as at 4t), throughout the entire circumferential zone thereof wherein hose and steamer nozzles usually are located. Such enlargement greatly facilita-tes manufacture of hydrants to order with diderent dispositions and locations of the hose and steamer nozzles 41 and 42, as required by the various uses to which the hydrant is to be employed. The enlarge-d barrel portion 40 facilitates the changing and placement of diiferent mold cores which are necessary to form the aforementioned nozzles when the upper barrel section Ztl is cast. t

A Valve stem, which includes an upper portion 44 and a lower portion 46 secured together in an end-to-end relation by a somewhat conventional frangible coupling 48, extends vertically within the hydrant barrel. The lower end of the valve stem is connected to a main hydrant valve assembly, indicated generally at 5t), which is disposed within the hydrant shoe 28.

The valve assembly 5t) (shown in FIG. 4) includes an annular brass bushing 52 having a peripheral flange 54 at its upper end clamped in place between the lower barrel section 22 and the hydrant shoe 28. The upper portion of the bushing 52 is interiorly threaded to threadedly receive a valve seat ring 56, and the bushing is further retained in place by drain tubes 62 extending through aligned radial apertures 53 and 60 in the lower portion of the bushing and in the hydrant shoe 28, respectively. The inner ends of the drain tubes d2 communicate with an outer circumferential drain groove 64 in the seat ring 56, and the latter is sealed to the bushing 52 by O-rings 66 disposed in outer circumferential grooves 68 in the valve seat ring, one above and one below the drain groove 64. The lower end of the valve seat ring 56 is provided with the usual downwardly facing frusto-conical valve seat 70 engageable by a valve washer 72 clamped between an upper valve plate 74 and a lower Valve plate 76, the upper plate being seated against a shoulder 78 on a reduced lower end 46 of the Valve stem and the lower plate 76 being retained on the stem by a cap nut Si).

The valve seat ring 56 is in the form of a spider having an outer annular portion 82 and an inner tubular portion 84 connected to the outer portion by radially extending arms or webs S6. The inner tubular portion 84 constitutes a guide for a reciprocating part 98 on the lower end of the valve stern and is provided with an inner circumferential groove 88 constituting a valve port that communicates with the outer circumferential drain groove 64 in the seat ring 56 by radial passageways 90 extending through the arms S6. The tubular portion 34 is also provided with inner circumferential grooves 92, having O-rings 94 disposed therein, with the grooves being located on opposite sides of the groove 88 to seal against the valve stem part 98. Above the upper valve plate 74, the lower valve stem part 98 is provided with one or more longitudinally extendingy grooves 96 that provide communication, when the valve is closed, between the inner circumferential groove 88 and the interior of the hydrant barrel above the valve seat 70, i.e., immediately above the upper valve plate 74. When the valve is opened, i.e., when the valve part 98 is moved downwardly, the longi tudinal grooves 96 are moved out of communication with the annular groove 88 and the latter is closed by the smooth surface ofthe part 98 above the groove 96, thereby shutting off communication between the interior of the barrelandtbe drain tubes 62.

The stem part 98 has a threaded socket 99 in its upper end constituting a feed nut which is restrained against rotation by a laterally extending lug 100 slideable in a longitudinal slot 102 inthe inner tubular portion 84 of the valve seat ring 56 above the upper O-ring 94. Thev upper valve stem portion 44 is swivelly connected to the top plate36 while a stem part 106 has a threaded lower end that constitutes an operating screw and is engaged within the threaded socket 99. Consequently, rotation of the upper valve stem portion 44. serves to raise or lower the valve washerI 72 to close or open the valve. Preferably, the bottom of the socket 99 is vented to the groove 96, via` a passageway 101, to drain any water that might otherwise collect in the socket and render opera tion of. the valve difficult. The swivel connection of the valve stem with the plate 36 may be effected by an operating head 108 secured, as by a pin 110, to the upper end of the stem portion 44 and rotatably extending through ank aperture 104' in the plate. The operating head 108 is suitably sealed to the top plate 36, as by the O-ring 114 disposed; within an inner peripheral groove 116 in the aperture 104. The head 108 is restrained against axial movement by a ange 107 thereon bearing against the underside of the plate 36 and a hub on a weather cap 112 secured to the head, as by another pin 110, and bearing against the top of the plate.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. and 6, the operating screw and nut for the valve stem are enclosed in a sealed lubricant chamber formed in part by the top plate 36. In this embodiment the top plate 36 is centrally apertured, as at 164, for the rotative reception of a drive or operating screw 118 suitably connected to an operating head 108 by a pin 110 which also secures a weather cap 112 to the head. A seal is provided between the top plate 36 andthe operating screw 118 by an O-ring 114 disposed in` a circumferential groove 116 in the aperture 104. A circumferential ange 120 on the screw 118 bears against the underside of the top plate 36, while an annular surface on the underside of the head 108 bears against the top of the plate to retain the operating screw 168 against axial movement while permitting the same to be freely rotatable by an appropriate Wrench (not shown).

Secured on the upper end of the upper valve stern portion 44, as by a pin and socket connection 1,24, is a socketed member constituting a stem or feed nut 126 threadedly engaged with the operating screw 118, so that rotation of the latter will effect reciprocation of the valve stem portions 44 and 46 to open and close the valve 50. Depending from the inner side of the top plate 36, in surrounding relation with the feed nut 126 and operating screw 118, is a skirt or sleeve 140 having a pair of longitudinally spaced interior circumferential grooves 142 at its lower end and O-rings 144 disposed therein and sealingly engaged with the outer cylindrical surface portion 146 of the feed nut 126. The upper of such rings 144 constitutes a uid seal, while the lower constitutes a wiper for the feed nut surface 146.

The sleeve 148', together with the O-rings 116 and 144, denes an annular chamber 136 within which are 4 exposed the interengaged threads on the screw 118 and the nut 126. A passage 138 throughthe plate 36 which has its outer end normally closed by a plug or lubricant fitting 139, enables the chamber 136 to be lled with lubricant.

Another passageway 148 through the plate 36 provides communication between the chamber 136 and the atmosphere. A suitable pressure relief valve 150 is connected into the passage 148.

The valve stem in this embodiment must also be restrained against rotation. This is accomplished by forming the lower valve stem portion 46 in two sections, 46' and 46, connecting the two sections together by a pinned socket joint 128, and having one end of the connectingy pin project from one side of the joint into a longitudinal slotl 182 formed in the upper end of the inner tubular portion 84 of the valve seat ring 56.

When the valve 50 is open, to permit the ow of wa: ter from the water main (not shown), hydrant shoe 28,

and upper and lower barrel portions 20 and.I 22, and` then to the appropriate hose and steamer nozzles 42, should O-ring 144 fail to provide a seal. between the sleeve 140 and feed nut 126, Water under main pressure will pass into the chamber 136 and then through the passage 148 and the valve 158, indicating to the operator the failure of the O-ring. In such event, the operator is at once apprised` of the failure of the seal anda new O-ring may be readily inserted to restore the seal. The ease of restoration of the seal, plus the readily detectable fact of failure, allows for ready upkeep and maintenance of the hydrant and serves to prevent the corrosion of the operating threads by loss of lubricant from the chamber, since such loss is readily detectable.

The provision of the drain arrangement, described in detail above, in the valve seat ring 56, bushing 52, andl hydrant shoe 28, prevents the collection of Water within the lower barrel portion 22 when the valve 50 is closed; In this regard, when the valve washer 70 is seated against the valve seat 70, the longitudinal drain grooves 96 disposed in lower valve stem portion 4 6, freely communicate with passageways in the arms or webs 86 of the valve seat ring 56 via the circumferential drain groove 64l in valve seat ring 56, and also with the soil surroundingthe buried hydrant shoe 28 through the drain tubes 62. Thus, when the valve 50 has been closed, any water remaining in the interior of the hydrant barrel may freely drain through the aforementioned drain passageways to the exterior of the hydrant shoe and prevent any rusting of the lower hydrant parts, or freezing of water in cold weather `which would, of course, render operation of the valve extremely difficult.

1n both of the embodiments above described, a wiper 0-ring 130 preferably is disposed in an interior circumferential groove 132 in the inner tubular portion 84 of the valve seat ring 56 above the uppermost sealing O-ring 94. This wiper ring serves to wipe dirt and corrosion from the lower valve stem portion 46 in order to prevent damage to the upper sealing O-ring 94. In both embodiments also, the upper end of the valve seat ring 56 is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending circumferentially undercut lugs 134 for engagement, in the, manner of a bayonet joint, by an appropriate wrench (not shown) which will serve to both turn and lift the valve seat ring 56 for removal after the latter has been unthreaded from its retaining bushing 52.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention a structure in which the various objects hereinbefore set forth, together with many practical advantages, are successfully achieved. As various possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention, all Without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A re hydrant comprising: a barrel; a hydrant shoe detachably connected to the lower end of said barrel; a valve seat ring threadedly engaged within the upper end of said shoe and removable upwardly through said barrel, said ring including an outer annular portion having a downwardly facing annular valve seat and an inner tubular portion connected to said outer portion by radial arms, the interior of said tubular portion being provided with a cylindrical section of substantially uniform diameter; drain means, for providing communication between the exterior of said shoe and the interior of the hydrant above said valve seat, including a passageway in at least one of said arms terminating at its inner end radially within said cylindrical section of said seat ring tubular portion; a valve stern extending through said barrel and having a lower portion guided for reciprocation within said seat ring tubular portion and provided with a cylindrical section having an uninterrupted smooth exterior surface for blocking said passageway inner end; a valve head on the lower end of said stem seatable on said seat, the inner end of said passageway being blocked by said stem cylindrical section when said valve is unseated and being unblocked when said valve head is seated; a pair of packing rings disposed in corresponding circumferential grooves within said seat ring cylindrical section on opposite sides of said passageway inner end for sealing engagement with said stem smooth exterior surface when said passageway inner end is blocked; and intertting means on said stem lower portion and seat ring tubular portion above said cylindrical sections thereof for restraining rotation of said stem lower portion.

2. The structure dened in claim 1 in which the valve stem includes an upper portion threadedly engaged within a socket in the upper end of said stem lower portion, rotation of said stem upper portion being eective to reciprocate said stem lower portion, and said stern lower portion having a drain passage therein communicating the bottom of said socket with the exterior of said stem lower portion below said smooth exterior surface thereof whereby said socket is at all times in communication with the interior of said hydrant.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 62,933 Buckley Mar. 19, 1867 154,087 Roberts Aug. 11, 1874 601,967 Jones Apr. 5, 1898 607,413 Mathews July 12, 1898 1,050,033 Martin Jan. 7, 1913 2,019,804 Waterous Nov. 5, 1935 2,204,310 Holmquist June 11, 1940 2,485,504 Morgan Oct. 18, 1949 2,493,152 Malcolm Jan. 3, 1950 2,576,631 Mueller Nov. 27, 1951 

1. A FIRE HYDRANT COMPRISING: A BARREL; A HYDRANT SHOE DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID BARREL; A VALVE SEAT RING THREADEDLY ENGAGED WITHIN THE UPPER END OF SAID SHOE AND REMOVABLE UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID BARREL, SAID RING INCLUDING AN OUTER ANNULAR PORTION HAVING A DOWNWARDLY FACING ANNULAR VALVE SEAT AND AN INNER TUBULAR PORTION CONNECTED TO SAID OUTER PORTION BY RADIAL ARMS, THE INTERIOR OF SAID TUBULAR PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH A CYLINDRICAL SECTION OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM DIAMETER; DRAIN MEANS, FOR PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE EXTERIOR OF SAID SHOE AND THE INTERIOR OF THE HYDRANT ABOVE SAID VALVE SEAT, INCLUDING A PASSAGEWAY IN AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ARMS TERMINATING AT ITS INNER END RADIALLY WITHIN SAID CYLINDRICAL SECTION OF SAID SEAT RING TUBULAR PORTION; A VALVE STEM EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BARREL AND HAVING A LOWER PORTION GUIDED FOR RECIPROCATION WITHIN SAID SEAT RING TUBULAR PORTION AND PROVIDED WITH A CYLINDRICAL SECTION HAVING AN UNINTERRUPTED SMOOTH EXTERIOR SURFACE FOR BLOCKING SAID PASSAGEWAY INNER END; A VALVE HEAD ON THE LOWER END OF SAID STEM SEATABLE ON SAID SEAT, THE INNER END OF SAID PASSAGEWAY BEING BLOCKED BY SAID STEM CYLINDRICAL SECTION WHEN SAID VALVE IS UNSEATED 